Receiving apparatus for digital broadcasting signal and receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus thereof

ABSTRACT

In a digital broadcasting signal receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus, a recorded program can be immediately reproduced without performing complicated operations. Only a desired program and information related to the desired program are separated to be extracted from the digital broadcasting signal. Then, the separated/extracted broadcasting signal is supplied to a recording/reproducing apparatus. In the recording/ reproducing apparatus, the supplied broadcasting signal is recorded, and the recorded program can be immediately reproduced without complicated manipulating operations during the signal reproducing operation.

[0001] The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No.09/851,196, filed May 9, 2001; which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 08/986,074, filed Dec. 5, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,026,the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus forreceiving a digital broadcasting signal, and an apparatus forreceiving/recording/reproducing the digital broadcasting signal. Morespecifically, the present invention is directed to a digitalbroadcasting signal receiving apparatus, and a receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus suitable for directly recording/ reproducing sucha digital broadcasting signal.

[0003] The conventional digital signal receiving/recording/ reproducingtechnique is described in, for instance, JP-A-8-98164, namely thereceiving/ recording/reproducing apparatus receives the digital signalby which a plurality of information is multiplexed and the multiplexedinformation is transmitted, and then records this digital signal. Theconventional technique describes the receiving means for receiving thedigital information signal by which a plurality of information ismultiplexed and then the multiplexed information is transmitted, and forselecting desired information; and also the recording means forrecording the information received by the receiving means. Also,JP-A-8-56350 discloses such a conventional technique that the desirableprogram is selected when the digital signal by which a plurality ofinformation is multiplexed and then the multiplexed information istransmitted is received to represent the programs. In the conventionaltechnique, such a program seeking apparatus is described. That is, aplurality of programs are converted into packets by adding packetidentifiers to the respective programs, and furthermore, the transfercontrol data indicative of the relationship between these programs andthe packet identifiers are converted into the packets. These packets aremultiplexed to be transmitted as the multiplexed signals from which therespective programs are seeked.

[0004] The above-mentioned conventional technique of JP-A-8-98164 hasnot described the following idea. That is, when the recorded programsare reproduced, only the information related to a desirable program isseparated from the multiplexed information, and then the separatedprogram is reproduced. On the other hand, another conventional techniqueof JP-A-8-56350 discloses such a seeking means for deriving a desirablesignal from the digital multiplexed signal and for representing thederived desirable signal. However, generally speaking, in aconventionally available VTR (Video Tape Recorder) forrecording/reproducing an analog signal, when a recorded program isreproduced, the program can be reproduced by merely manipulating areproducing switch, and without performing any other complex operations.To the contrary, even when the digital information signal processingtechnique as explained in JP-A-8-98164 would be combined with anotherconventional technique as explained in JP-A-8-56350, cumbersomeoperations such as the program seeking operation should be carried outduring the program reproducing operation. As a consequence, it is notpossible to realize such a program reproducing operation that thedesirable recorded program can be immediately reproduced by simplymanipulating a single switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a digitalbroadcasting signal receiving apparatus as well as a digitalbroadcasting signal receiving/recording/ reproducing apparatus, capableof immediately reproducing a program recorded in a direct form of adigital signal without executing any cumbersome operations similar tothe above-described analog signal recording/reproducing VTR.

[0006] To achieve this object, a digital broadcasting signal receivingapparatus, according to an aspect of the present invention, is provided.The digital broadcasting signal receiving apparatus include channeldecoder for receiving digital transfer information and for demodulatingthe received digital transfer information into a bit stream having apredetermined packet structure, the digital transfer information beingproduced by that a plurality of logical channel signals constituted byvideo, audio, and data are multiplexed as digital information on asingle bit stream having a predetermined packet format and aretransferred, first packet separating apparatus for extracting adesignated packet from a bit stream outputted from the channel decodingmeans, a source decoder for decoding a logical channel signal outputtedfrom the first packet separating apparatus to output the decoded logicalchannel as a television signal, second packet separating apparatus forextracting at least a portion of the designated packets from the bitstream outputted from the channel decoder, output apparatus foroutputting a bit stream output from the second packet separatingapparatus toward a recording/reproducing apparatus, input apparatus forsupplying a bit stream derived from the recording/reproducing apparatusto the first packet separating apparatus, and control apparatus forcontrolling operations of the first packet separating apparatus and thesecond packet separating apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] For a more better understanding of the present invention,reference is made of a detailed description to be read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram for representing anarrangement of a digital broadcasting signalreceiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIGS. 2A-2C are an illustration for showing a packet structureand a method of packet multiplexing;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a flow chart for describing a sequential operation of aprogram representation when a digital broadcasting signal is received;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a flow chart for describing a sequential operation of aprogram representation when a recorded digital broadcasting signal isreproduced;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram for showing an arrangement ofa digital broadcasting signal receiving/ recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a flow chart for describing a sequential operation of aprogram representation in response to a reproduction signal derived fromrecording/reproducing apparatus in the arrangement of FIG. 5;

[0014]FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram for indicating an arrangementof a digital broadcasting signal receiving/recording/reproducingapparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram for indicating an arrangementof a digital broadcasting signal receiving/recording/reproducingapparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram for indicating an arrangementof a digital broadcasting signal receiving/recording/reproducingapparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram for indicating an arrangementof a digital broadcasting signal receiving/record ing/reproducingapparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram for indicating an arrangementof a digital broadcasting signal receiving/recording/reproducingapparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram for indicating an arrangementof a digital broadcasting signal receiving/recording/reproducingapparatus according to a eighth embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 13 is a block diagram for representing another structure ofthe second demultiplexer of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 14 is a block diagram for showing a further structure of thesecond demultiplexer of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram for indicating an arrangementof a digital broadcasting signal receiving/recording/reproducingapparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram for showing a firstarrangement of the present replacing circuit shown in FIG. 15;

[0024]FIG. 17 is a timing chart for indicating operations of the packetreplacing circuit shown in FIG. 10 16;

[0025]FIG. 18 is a timing chart for representing conditions ofseparating/replacing packets;

[0026]FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram for showing a secondarrangement of the present replacing circuit shown in FIG. 15;

[0027]FIG. 20 is a timing chart for indicating operations of the packetreplacing circuit shown in FIG. 19;

[0028]FIG. 21 is a timing chart for representing conditions a firstoperation in an all replacement mode; and

[0029]FIG. 22 is a timing chart for showing a second operation in theall replacement mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram for indicating an arrangementof an apparatus for receiving/recording/ reproducing a digitalbroadcasting signal, according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. In the following description, an antenna 300 receivessatellite broadcasting which have been digitally modulated in accordancewith the Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying (will be simply referred to as a“QPSK” hereinafter). However, the present invention is not limited tothe QPSK modulating system, but also to the satellite broadcastingsystem. Also, in the following description, the Moving Picture ExpertsGroup 2 (will be simply referred to as an “MPEG2” hereinafter) isemployed as signal compressing/ decompressing system. However,similarly, the signal compressing/decompressing system used in theembodiments of the present invention is not employed as the limitedpurpose.

[0031] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 300 shows an antenna, referencenumeral 301 indicates a converter for converting the received radio waveinto a tuner input signal, and reference numeral 302 is a cable. Also,reference numeral 401 indicates a tuner, reference numeral 402 indicatesa QPSK demodulator, reference numeral 403 indicates a Forward ErrorCorrection (will, be referred to as an “FEC” hereinafter) for correctingan error of a signal caused by transmitting the signal, referencenumerals 414 and 424 indicate switches, reference numeral 413 denotes asecond demultiplexer, reference numeral 423 represents a signalrecording/ reproducing means, and reference numeral 404 indicates afirst demultiplexer. Also, reference numeral 405 indicates an MPEG2decoder, reference numeral 406 indicates a video encoder, referencenumeral 407 is a D/A converter, reference numeral 408 indicates an OnScreen Display (OSD), reference numeral indicates a control means,reference numeral 410 indicates a television set, reference numerals 434and 415 each are Random Access Memory (will be referred to as a “RAM”hereinafter) used to decompress data by the first demultiplexer 404 andthe MPEG2 decoder 405, and reference numeral 419 indicates a Read-OnlyMemory (will be referred to as a “ROM” hereinafter) for storing anoperation program of the control means 409.

[0032] In FIG. 1, the radio wave transmitted from a satellite (notshown) is received by the antenna 300, and then is converted into thetuner input signal by the converter 301. The tuner input signal isentered via the cable 302 to the tuner 401. In the example shown in FIG.1, the tuner 401 selects a desired signal from the input signal inaccordance with the setting condition of the control means, and thenoutputs the desired signal. The output signal from the tuner 401 isdemodulated by the QPSK demodulator 402, and then the demodulated signalis entered into the FEC 403. The FEC corrects the errors of the digitalinput signal, caused by the signal transmission.

[0033] The digital signal which is obtained by executing the errorcorrection of the input signal in the above-described manner is inputtedvia the switches 414 and 424 to the first demultiplexer 404. Generallyspeaking, the digital satellite broadcasting system as explained in thepresent embodiment is featured in that a plurality of programs can bemultiplexed on a single radio wave which is relayed by a radio wavetransponder (not shown) mounted on a satellite. A desired program isselected from the multiplexed program by the first demultiplexer 404. Adigital signal separated by the first demultiplexer 404 is entered intothe MPEG2 decoder 405. The MPEG2 decoder 405 decompresses the compresseddigital signal to reproduce both a digital video signal before beingcompressed and a digital audio signal before being compressed. Thereproduced digital video signal is entered via the OSD 408 to the videoencoder 406, and the reproduced digital audio signal is entered into theD/A converter 407. The video encoder 406 converts the entered digitalvideo signal into an analog video signal which will then be outputted tothe television set 410. On the other hand, the D/A converter 407converts the inputted digital audio signal into an analog audio signalwhich will then be outputted to the television set 410. Theabove-described operations are controlled by the control means 409operated in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 419.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a description will be made ofan example of a general-purpose sequential operation for separatingdesired program information in the first demultiplexer 404. A signalentered into the first demultiplexer 404 of FIG. 1 owns such a structurethat a packet indicated in FIG. 2A has been multiplexed as indicated inFIG. 2B. FIG. 2B shows an example of the method of pocket multiplexing.The signal multiplexed as shown in FIG. 2B is processed by the firstdemultiplexer 404.

[0035] It should be noted that FIG. 2C indicates a structural example ofa header 20 shown in FIG. 2A, reference numeral 23 shows asynchronization (sync) byte equal to a fixed pattern indicative of ahead of the header 20, reference numeral 24 indicates a transport errorindicator, reference numeral 25 represents a payload unit startindicator, reference numeral 26 shows a transport priority, referencenumeral 27 denotes a PID indicative of an attribute of a packet,reference numeral 28 is a transport scramble control, reference numeral29 represents an adaptation field control, and reference numeral 30shows a continuity counter. They indicate various sorts of attributesand conditions related to the respective packets, are constructed of 4bytes. Each of these numerals indicates a bit number.

[0036] An example of the operations executed in the first demultiplexer404 is shown in a flow chart of FIG. 3. At a first step 201, an observerenters a desirable logical channel. The logical channel implies such ageneral name for combining video and audio information for constitutingone program, and corresponds to a television channel, used in theconventional analog broadcasting system. Generally speaking, in adigital broadcasting system, a single frequency at which a plurality ofprograms are multiplexed is referred to as a physical channel. At thenext step 202, for instance, a PAT(Program Association Table) isreceived, which corresponds to one of packets for constituting themultiplexed signal (will be referred to as a “TS(Transport Stream)”hereinafter) shown in FIG. 2 under reception. It should also be notedthat “PAT” is equal to one of the tables contained in PSI(ProgramSpecific Information) defined by the international standard rule MPEG2.Also, PID indicative of being PAT is defined to have a specific value.As a consequence, for instance, when PID of PAT is previously stored inthe ROM 419, the first demultiplexer 404 can receive the PAT, irrelevantto the information contained in the signal under reception. At asubsequent step 203, a check is made as to whether or not a desirablelogical channel is contained in the added data of the PAT received atthe step 202. If the desirable logical channel is present, then theprocess operation is advanced to a step 207. Conversely, when thedesirable logical channel is not present, the process operation isadvanced to a step 204. At this step 204, an NIT(Network InformationTable) corresponding to one of PSI is received to acquire a physicalchannel containing the desirable logical channel, and in the NIT, arelationship between the physical channel and the logical channelcontained in the added data is described. Then, at a step 205, theprocess operation is advanced to the physical channel acquired at thestep 204. In the actual circuit, the physical channel is advanced bysetting such a frequency to be selected into the tuner 401 by thecontrol means 409. Thereafter, at a step 206, a PAT is received which isequal to one of packets for constructing the multiplexed signal TS inthe advanced physical channel. Upon receipt of the PAT, at the next step207, a PMT(Program Map Table) is acquired, and such a PMT containing theabove-described PID is received. In the PMT, a PID(Packet ID) such asthe video and the audio for constituting the desirable logical channelentered at the step 201 is described.

[0037] In this case, the PMT is constructed of a header and the regionof the added data in FIG. 2B, and is equal to one of the PSI tables.Also, in the PID, a packet PID for such as a PCR(Program ClockReference) is described, and the PCR indicates the video, the audio, andthe time information, which constitute each of the logical channelscontained in the TS under reception. Accordingly, at a step 208, thepacket PID for such as the video, the audio, and the PCR of the desiredprogram is acquired. The PID subsequently acquired is set to the firstdemultiplexer 404 shown in FIG. 1 at a step 209, a desirable videostream and a desirable audio stream are received and then are enteredinto the MPEG2 decoder 405 so as to be decoded therein.

[0038] The video signal which has been decoded by the above-explainedoperation is processed via the OSD 408 by the NTSC encoder 406 to bethereby converted into the analog video signal. Also, the audio signalis converted into the analog audio signal by the D/A converter 407.Then, both the analog video signal and the analog audio signal areentered into the television 410, so that the program desired by theobserver can be represented, or displayed.

[0039] Next, a description will be made of a sequential operation inwhich the received signal is supplied via the switch 414 and the seconddemultiplexer 413 to the recording/reproducing means 423 so as to recordthe received digital signal, and the digital signal recorded from therecording/reproducing means 423 via the switch 424 is reproduced.

[0040] In the case that the digital signal is recorded on therecording/reproducing means 423, the switch 414 is switched undercontrol of the control means 409 in such a manner that the FEC 403 isconnected to the second demultiplexer 413. The second demultiplexer 413is equal to a means for deriving only data required to reproduce only adesired program in response to the instruction issued from the controlmeans 409 when the recorded signal is reproduced by the observer. In theembodiment of FIG. 1, in addition to the respective packets for such asthe PAT, PMT, video, and audio, only a PCR(Program Clock Reference) andinformation (pf EIT) related to the desired program (namely, presentlyobserved program) among the program related information are derived. ThePCR corresponds to the data indicative of the time information requiredin the MPEG2 decoder 405.

[0041] Another arrangement of the second demultiplexer 413 in FIG. 1 isrepresented in FIG. 13. The second demultiplexer 413 is arranged by ademultiplexer 4131 for extracting desirable information, correspondingto the second demultiplexer 413 shown in FIG. 2, and a speed convertingmeans 4132 for speed-converting the transfer rate of the output signalfrom the demultiplexer 4131 in order that the transfer rate is fitted tothe recording/reproducing means 423. The speed converting means 4132corresponds to, specifically speaking, a FIFO(First-In/First-Out)memory, for example.

[0042] A further arrangement of the second demultiplexer 413 of FIG. 1is indicated in FIG. 14. This arrangement of FIG. 14 is equipped with aninterface means 4133 in addition to the above-described arrangementshown in FIG. 13. That is, reference numeral 4133 is an interface meansbetween the second demultiplexer 413 of FIG. 1, and therecording/reproducing means 423, for instance, such an interface meansfor converting a parallel signal into a serial signal when the signaloutputted from the speed converting means 4132 is the parallel signal.

[0043] The signal extracted by the second demultiplexer 413 having suchan arrangement as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 13, or FIG. 14 is recorded onthe recording/reproducing means 423. During the reproducing operation,the digital signal reproduced by the recording/reproducing means 423 isentered via the switch 424 to the first demultiplexer 404.

[0044] When the signal recorded on the recording/ reproducing means 423is reproduced, the first demultiplexer 404 is operated in accordancewith a sequential operation shown in FIG. 4 under control of the controlmeans 409. Now, the sequential operation will be described. It should benoted that since, in general, the PID indicative of the program relatedinformation is represented by a specific value, irrelevant to theprogram, this condition is also employed as the initial condition ofthis embodiment.

[0045] When a digital signal is entered from the recording/reproducingmeans 423, under control of the control means 409, the firstdemultiplexer 404 receives desired program related information tothereby acquire the number of a logical channel described in the desiredprogram related information as indicated at a first step 441 of FIG. 4.At the next step 442, a PAT(Program Association Table) is received. Atthis stage, since the channel number of the recorded channel editedchannel is known at the step 441, a PID(Packet ID) of a PMT(Program MapTable) in which the packet PID(Packet ID) such as the video and theaudio of the recorded program is described can be immediately acquired.The following sequential operation is similar to the sequentialoperation as explained in FIG. 3.

[0046] As previously described, in accordance with the first embodiment,the program reproduced from the recording/reproducing means 423 on whichthe program has been recorded under condition of the digital multiplexedsignal can be immediately demultiplexed and decoded to be displayedwithout the complex operation by the observer. Furthermore, since thedesired program related information is recorded, the services using theinformation related to the program can be improved, which constitutesone of the features provided by the digital broadcasting system.

[0047]FIG. 5 represents an arrangement of a digital broadcasting signalreceiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that in thefirst embodiment of FIG. 1, the second demultiplexer 413 extracts onlythe desired program related information in response to the instructionissued by the control means 409. In contrast thereto, in accordance withthe embodiment of FIG. 5, the second demultiplexer 413 is so arrangedthat this second demultiplexer 413 extracts all of the program relatedinformation in response to the instruction issued from the control means409 without discriminating as to whether or not the received informationcorresponds to such an information related to a desired program, and theextracted all program related information is recorded on therecording/reproducing means 423.

[0048]FIG. 6 shows a sequential operation for processing a reproductionsignal derived from the recording/ reproducing means 423 in the casewhere the arrangement of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is employed.That is, the sequential operation of FIG. 6 eliminates the processoperation for acquiring the logical channel from the desired programrelated information as defined at the step 441 of the sequentialoperation shown in FIG. 4. Then, at a first step 601, a check is made asto whether or not the information of the logical channel is madecoincident with the PMT on which the PID described in the PAT has beenrecorded. If this information is not made coincident with the PMT, thenthe process operation defined at the step 601 is repeatedly performeduntil this information is made coincident with the PMT. Conversely, ifthe information is made coincident with this PMT, the process operationis advanced to a process operation defined at a step 602. The subsequentoperation is identical to the process operations defined after the step443 of FIG. 4.

[0049] In accordance with the second embodiment of FIG. 5, the circuitarrangement of the second demultiplexer 413 can be made simpler thanthat of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Also, similar to the firstembodiment of FIG. 1, it is possible to improve the services while usingthe information related to the program described in the program relatedinformation.

[0050]FIG. 7 schematically shows arrangement of a digital broadcastingsignal receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment of FIG. 7exhibits a difference from the second embodiment of FIG. 5 such that thesecond demultiplexer 413 does not extract the program relatedinformation, but extracts only PAT, PMT, PCR and video/audio data undercontrol of the control means 409. As a result, the arrangement of thesecond demultiplexer 413 can be furthermore simplified, as compared withthat of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

[0051]FIG. 8 schematically shows arrangement of a digital broadcastingsignal receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment of FIG. 8exhibits a difference from the first embodiment of FIG. 1 such that thesecond demultiplexer 413 of FIG. 8 extracts only PMT, PCR and audio dataunder control of the control means 409, and also, a PID rewriting means433 is employed. That is, in the fourth embodiment of FIG. 8, the PIDrewriting means 433 is so arranged that the PID of the PMT is rewritteninto a specific value set by the control means, and a signal of thespecific value is recorded on the recording/reproducing means 423. As aresult, when the recorded signal is reproduced, since the PID of the PMTis previously recognized, the PIDs of the video/audio data and the PCRdescribed in the PMT can be immediately acquired. Similar to the firstembodiment of FIG. 1, these video/audio data, and the PID of the PCR canbe immediately reproduced without any complicated operation.

[0052]FIG. 9 schematically shows arrangement of a digital broadcastingsignal receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment of FIG. 9exhibits a difference from the fourth embodiment of FIG. 8 such that thesecond demultiplexer 413 of FIG. 9 extracts only PCR and video/audiodata under control of the control means 409, and also the PIDs of thePCR, and of the video/audio data are rewritten by a PID rewriting means433 into a specific value set by the control means 409.

[0053] In accordance with the fifth embodiment of FIG. 9, during thereproducing operation, since the PIDs of the recorded PCR, and thevideo/audio data are previously recognized, these PCR, and thevideo/audio data can be immediately reproduced without any complexoperation by the user, similar to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.Also, the amount of the recorded information can be reduced, as comparedwith that of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and further thearrangement of the second demultiplexer 413 can be simplified.

[0054]FIG. 10 schematically shows arrangement of a digital broadcastingsignal receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to a sixthembodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment of FIG. 10exhibits a difference from the fifth embodiment of FIG. 9 such that apacket inserting means 453 shown in FIG. 10 is employed as the PIDrewriting means 433 of FIG. 9. In the sixth embodiment of FIG. 10, thesecond demultiplexer 413 acquires a desirable PCR, and PIDs of variousinformation such as video/audio data, and extracts the above-describedPCR, video, and audio to be supplied to the packet inserting means 453.The packet inserting means 453 forms a packet into which the PIDs suchas the PCR, the video, and the audio acquired in the second demultiplexer 413 are described, and then insets this packet into theinput signal derived from the second demultiplexer 413. Then, theinserted input signal is recorded on the recording/reproducing means423. When the recorded signal is reproduced, the first demultiplexer 404is first controlled by the control means 409 in such a manner that thefirst demultiplexer 404 receives the packet inserted by the packetinserting means 453 to thereby acquire the PIDs of the PCR, the video,and the audio described in this received packet. As a consequence,similar to the fifth embodiment of FIG. 9, the desired program can beimmediately represented without any complex operation by the user. Itshould be understood that as the PID of the packet inserted by thepacket inserting means, the PID same as the PAT defined by the MPEG2rule may be applied. Since the MPEG2 rule defines that the PID of thePAT is set to a specific value, when the signal reproduced from therecording/reproducing means 423 is processed in the first demultiplexer404, the process operation explained with reference to FIG. 10 may berealized by presetting that the control means 409 first controls thefirst demultiplexer 404 so as to extract such a packet having the samePID as that of the PAT.

[0055] As previously described, since the sixth embodiment of thepresent invention shown in FIG. 10 is employed, the desired program canbe immediately displayed without any operation by the user.

[0056]FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram for showing an arrangement ofa digital broadcasting signal receiving/ recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11,reference numeral 463 is a transfer rate detecting means. In FIG. 11,similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 5, the seconddemultiplexer 413 extracts the information such an the video and theaudio, and also the added data such as the program information inresponse to the instruction issued from the control means 409. The TS(Transport Stream) outputted from the second demultiplexer 413 isinputted to the transfer rate detecting means 463. When the transferrate detecting means 463 detects that the transfer rate of the inputtedTS exceeds a preset specific value, the transfer rate detecting means463 outputs such a signal to the control means 409 by notifying such afact that the transfer rate exceeds the preset value. When thenotification signal is entered from the transfer rate detecting means463, the control means 409 controls the second demultiplexer 413 in sucha manner that the information not for directly giving the influence tothe display of the program is riot extracted in accordance with a presetpriority order. In other words, for example, when the transfer rate ofthe TS outputted from the second demultiplexer 413 exceeds a presetvalue, the extracting operation of the program information is stopped.As a consequence, the transfer rate of the multiplexed signal outputtedfrom the second demultiplexer 413 becomes smaller than, or equal to aconstant value.

[0057] As previously explained, in the seventh embodiment of FIG. 11, inthe case that for example, as the recording/reproducing means 423, sucha recording means is employed in which there is an upper limit in thetransfer rate of the recordable multiplexed signal, the information suchas the video and the audio, which constitute the program is recorded inconnection with the added information such as the program information soas to increase the additive value unless the multiplexed signal to berecorded exceeds the preset transfer rate. Even when the transfer rateof the multiplexed signal to be recorded exceeds the preset transferrate, the extracting operation of such information which has no directrelationship with the representation of the program content is stopped,so that the program information can be recorded.

[0058]FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram for representing anarrangement of a digital broadcasting signalreceiving/recording/reproducing apparatus according to an eighthembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 473is a switch means. In FIG. 12, in response to the instruction issuedfrom the control means 409, the second demultiplexer 413 extractsrecording related information as to protections of copyright, and whensuch an information that recording operation is prohibited as therecording related information is extracted, the control means 409detects that the information of prohibiting the recording operation isextracted, and control the switch means 473 based on the detectedinformation. As a result, the signal outputted from the seconddemultiplexer 413 is not applied to the recording/reproducing means 423.

[0059] In other words, when the signal is transmitted on thetransmission side, to which such information for notifying that therecording operation is prohibited so as to protect the copyright isadded, the digital broad-casting signal receiving/recording/reproducingapparatus can be operated in Accordance with this information byemploying the eighth embodiment of FIG. 12.

[0060] As apparent from the eighth embodiment of FIG. 12, although theswitch means 437 for prohibiting the recording operation is employed,even when a partial operation (speed converting means 4132 etc.), or alloperations of the second demultiplexer 413 are stopped under control ofthe control means 409, a similar effect may be achieved.

[0061] It should also be noted that although the first demultiplexer 404and the second demultiplexer 413 have been described as the separatecircuits in the embodiments, these two means may be constituted as asingle circuit block.

[0062]FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram for showing an arrangement ofa digital broadcasting signal receiving/recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] In FIG. 15, reference numeral 501 shows an antenna, referencenumeral 502 indicates a tuner, reference numeral 503 denotes a QPSKdemodulator, and reference numeral 504 shows a forward error correction(FEC) for correcting an error in a transmitted signal. Also, referencenumeral 505 is a switch, reference numeral 506 shows a first packetseparating circuit, reference numeral 507 denotes an MPEG2 decoder,reference numeral 508 is a video/audio output terminal, referencenumeral 509 shows a second packet separating circuit, reference numeral510 represents a packet replacing circuit, reference numeral 511 denotesan interface circuit, reference numeral 512 indicates arecording/reproducing apparatus, reference numeral 513 is a systemcontroller, reference numeral 514 shows an output circuit, and referencenumeral 518 denotes a video/audio output terminal. In FIG. 15, the radiowave transmitted from a satellite (not shown) is received by the antenna501, and then this signal is entered to the tuner 502. In the exampleshown in FIG. 15, the tuner 502 selects a desirable signal from theinput signal in accordance with the setting condition of the systemcontroller 513, and then outputs the desirable signal. The output signalfrom the tuner 502 is demodulated by the QPSK demodulator 503, and thenthe demodulated signal is entered into the FEC 504. The FEC 504 correctsthe errors of the digital input signal, caused by the signaltransmission.

[0064] The digital signal which is obtained by performing the errorcorrection of the input signal in the above-described manner is inputtedvia the switch 505 to the first packet separating circuit 506. Generallyspeaking, the digital satellite broadcasting system as explained in thepresent invention is featured in that a plurality of programs can bemultiplexed on a single radio wave which is relayed by a radio wavetransponder (not shown) mounted on a satellite. A desired program isselected from the multiplexed program by the first packet separatingcircuit 506. A digital signal separated by the first packet separatingcircuit 506 is entered into the MPEG2 decoder 507. The MPEG2 decoder 507decompresses the compressed digital signal to reproduce both a digitalvideo signal before being compressed and a digital audio signal beforebeing compressed. The reproduced digital video signal and the reproduceddigital audio signal are converted into analog video and audio signals,respectively, by the output circuit 514, which will then be outputtedfrom the video/audio output terminal 518. The above-described operationsare controlled by the system controller 513.

[0065] An example of a general-purpose sequential operation forseparating the desired program information in the first packetseparating circuit 506 as to the above-described explanation is similarto that as explained with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In otherwords, the first packet separating circuit 506 shown in FIG. 15corresponds to the first demultiplexer 404 shown in FIG. 1, and iscontrolled by the system controller 513. The first packet separatingcircuit 506 executes the process operations defined at the steps 201 to208 and the step 209 of FIG. 3 to extract a desirable video stream and adesirable audio stream. Then, desired program stream is obtained ansupplied to the MPEG2 decoder 507 so as to be decoded. The decoded videosignal and the decoded audio signal are processed in the output circuit514 in order to be converted into analog signals. Then, these analogvideo/audio signals are outputted from the video/audio output terminal58 so as to be received by an external television set (not shown), sothat the program desired by the observer can be displayed.

[0066] Next, a description will now be made of a sequential operationfor recording the signal received via the second packet separatingcircuit 509 by the recording/ reproducing apparatus 512, and also forreproducing the signal recorded on the recording/reproducing apparatus512.

[0067] The second packet separating circuit 509 corresponds to a meansfor extracting data which is required when the observer reproduces onlythis desired program during the reproducing operation after beingrecorded. During the reproducing operation, since a packet is needed inaddition to the signals extracted by the first packet separating circuit506, another stream different from the program stream is required. Inthe ninth embodiment of FIG. 15, in addition to the respective packetssuch as the above-described PAT, PMT, video data and audio data, both aPCR (Program Clock Reference) equal to data indicative of timeinformation required in the MPEG2 decoder 507, and information relatedto a desired program (namely, program presently observed by observer)among the program related information are extracted, and thereafter arerecorded on the recording/reproducing apparatus 512 via the packetreplacing circuit 510 and the interface circuit 511.

[0068] One embodiment of the present invention contemplates that whenthe signal is reproduced by the recording/ reproducing apparatus 512,the program of the recorded signal is automatically selected. To achievethe contemplation, after the above-described PAT replacement is carriedout in the packet replacing circuit 510, the packet-replaced signal isrecorded.

[0069] Operations of the packet replacing circuit 510 will now bedescribed as follows:

[0070]FIG. 16 represents a first structural example of the packetreplacing circuit. In FIG. 16, reference numeral 44 shows a buffer fortemporarily storing therein data having approximately several bytes,reference numeral 40 indicates a PID detecting circuit for detecting aPID 27 from the data stored in the buffer 44, reference numeral 41 showsa PID coincidence circuit for comparing the PID detected by the PIDdetecting circuit 40 with a preselected value, reference numeral 42 is astorage circuit for storing the replaced data, and reference numeral 46shows a selecting circuit for selecting the inputted data output fromthe buffer 44, or the data outputted from the storage circuit 42. Also,reference numeral 54 is a timing generating circuit, and referencenumeral 56 represents a PID register for storing therein a predeterminedPID entered by the system controller 13.

[0071]FIG. 17 indicates an operation timing chart of the packetreplacing circuit. It is now assumed that this packet replacing circuitis operated in unit of a byte, and all of a input packet 45 and the likeare 8-bit parallel signals. Although not shown in FIG. 16, the packetreplacing circuit is operated in synchronism with a byte clock 60indicated in FIG. 17.

[0072] A separated stream 45 outputted from the second packet separatingcircuit 509 is sequentially stored in the buffer 44 in unit of severalbytes. In FIG. 17, the data stored in the buffer 44 with respect to eachof stages are set as a buffer 1(52), a buffer 2(53), a buffer 3(61), anda buffer 4(46). Also, an enable signal 70 representative of a section ofan input packet is indicated in FIG. 17. Alternatively, the enablesignal 70 may be outputted from the second packet separating circuit509, or may be generated by the timing generating circuit 54 from thesynchronization byte 23.

[0073] A PID of a packet to be replaced (replaced PID) is previouslyinputted by the system controller 513, and then is stored into the PIDregister 56, and data after being replaced (replaced data) is enteredvia the system controller 513 to be stored into the storage circuit 42.It should also be noted that a plurality of packet data may be storedinto the storage circuit 42.

[0074] A detection clock 63 is generated from the enable signal 70 bythe timing generating circuit 54. At timing 64, a total of 13 bits,namely an 8-bit output of the buffer 1 and a lower-digit 5 bits of thebuffer 2 becomes a PID 27. The PID coincidence circuit 41 compares adetected PID 55 which is detected by the PID detecting circuit 40 with areplaced PID 57 which is stored into the PID register 56. When thedetected PID 55 is made coincident with the replaced PID 57, a detectionresult 51 is set to “H” as indicated by 65. Conversely, when thedetected PID 55 is not made coincident with the placed PID 57, thedetection result 51 remains as “L” as indicated by a broken line of 66.When the detection result 51 is equal to “L”, the selecting circuit 46selects “a”, whereas when the detection result 51 is equal to “H”, theselecting circuit 46 selects “b”, so that if the detected PID 55 is madecoincident with the replaced PID 57, this selecting circuit 46 outputsreplaced data 47 corresponding to the output from the storage circuit42. As a result, all of the packets having a preselected PID can bereplaced by arbitrary data. The output timing of the storage circuit 42is controlled by the timing generating circuit 54. When the detected PID55 is not made coincident with the replaced PID 57, the output 46 fromthe buffer 44 is directly outputted.

[0075] As a consequence, such a PAT into which the PIDs of a pluralityof PMT packets are written with respect to a plurality of programsmultiplexed on a single input stream 80 can be replaced by such a PATinto which the PIDs of the PMT packets only for the presently recordedprograms are written. In other words, the PIDs of the PATs are storedinto the PID register under control of the system controller 513, andalso the PAT only for the PIDs of the PMT packets only for the programto be recorded may be stored into the storage circuit 42.

[0076]FIG. 18 is a timing chart for indicating operation examples of thepacket separating operation and the packet replacing operation. In thefigure, reference numeral 80 shows an input stream to be entered intothe second packet separating circuit 9, reference numeral 45 indicates aseparated stream generated by separating only the packet related to oneprogram by the second packet separating circuit 509, reference numeral48 shows an output stream corresponding to the output from the packetreplacing circuit 510. It should be understood that in FIG. 18, symbols“A”, “B”, and “C” indicate packets related to a program A, a program B,and a program C, respectively and another symbol “ST” denotes a packedother than the audio packet.

[0077] Both the packet and the PAT related to the program A areextracted from the input stream 80 by the packet separating circuit 509to thereby obtain the separated stream 45. Since the PIDs of the PMTsfor all of the programs A, B, C are written into the PATs (81, 83) atthis time, the packet replacing circuit 510 replaces the PATs (82, 84)only for the PID of the PMT for the program A by way of theabove-explained operations, so that the output stream 48 is outputted.This output stream 48 is processed by, for instance, aparallel-to-serial conversion in the interface circuit 511, and then theparallel/serial-converted output stream is supplied to therecording/reproducing apparatus 512 so as to be recorded.

[0078] During the reproducing operation, the signal reproduced by therecording/reproducing apparatus 512 is serial-to-parallel-converted bythe interface circuit 511 into a serial/parallel-converted signal whichwill then be supplied via the switch 550 to the first packet separatingcircuit 506. When the signal recorded on the recording/reproducingapparatus 512 is reproduced by the first packet separating circuit 506,the first packet separating circuit 506 is controlled by the systemcontroller 513 to be operated in accordance with the same sequentialoperation as explained in FIG. 4 with respect to the arrangement of FIG.1.

[0079] In the above-mentioned descriptions, the packet replacing circuit510 replaces the entire packet. Alternatively, when the PAT is replaced,the header 20 is directly reserved, and only the portion of the data 21is replaced. As a result, the replacing timing may be set immediatelyafter the header 20. In this alternative case, an arrangement of thereplacing circuit 510 is shown in FIG. 19, and operation timing thereofis indicated in FIG. 20. In FIG. 19, an input “a” of the selectingcircuit 43 is used as a separated stream 45 before the buffer 44. Thetiming of the detection clock 63 shown in FIG. 20, and the timing atwhich the detection result 51 becomes “H” are identical to those of FIG.5. The input “a” of the selecting circuit 43 corresponds to such a timeinstant when the header 20 is ended, and only the data 21 is replaced.With this arrangement, the storage capacitance of the buffer 44 can bereduced, and the circuit scale can be reduced.

[0080] Also, in FIG. 17 and FIG. 20, the timing 67 at which thedetection result 51 is returned to “L” is set to the timing after thefinal data of the packet has been outputted. Alternatively, this returntiming 67 may be switched in a half way of the packet. As a consequence,only the data about a portion of the data 21 may be replaced.

[0081] Alternatively, when the packet replacing circuit 510 is equippedwith a mode capable of replacing all packets into replaced data, anarbitrary packet may be recorded on the recording/reproducing apparatus512 at arbitrary timing. An operation sample of the alternative case isindicated in FIG. 21. In FIG. 21, reference numeral 50 shows anoperation mode of the packet replacing circuit 510 controlled by thesystem controller 513. A “PAT” replacement is a mode in which theabove-described normal packet replacing operation is carried out. An“all replacement mode-I” is such a mode that all of separated streamsentered into the packet replacing circuit 510 are replaced by the firstreplaced data stored in the storage circuit 42 irrelevant to the PIDsthereof, and the first replacement data may be different from thereplaced data replaced in the PAT replacement mode. Also, an “allreplacement mode-2” is such a mode that all of separated streams enteredinto this packet replacing circuit 510 are similarly replaced by thesecond replaced data stored in the storage circuit 42 irrelevant to thePIDs thereof. In the all replacement mode, the PID coincidence circuit41 may set the detection result 51 to “H” irrelevant to the values ofthe detected PID 55 and the replaced PID 57. As represented by an outputstream of FIG. 21, an arbitrary packet, PA1 (93 and 94), and PA2 (95)can be recorded under control of the replacement mode 50 by the systemcontroller 513. The selection between the PA1 and the PA2 may be made bythat the replacement mode 50 is judged by the timing generating circuit54 to control the storage circuit 42. Specifically speaking, when a RAMis employed in the storage circuit 42, the read addresses of this RAMmay be selected.

[0082] As a result, for example, when the recording operation is startedand the recording operation is ended, a packet and the like, whichindicate an interruption of the recording operation, can be recorded.Since the editing point of the recording operation and the changingpoint of the program can be detected during the reproducing operation,either the automatic resetting operation can be done, on the program canbe changed by the first packet separating means 506.

[0083] On the other hand, in the case where the time duration for theall replacement mode is short, there is no guarantee that a packet ispresent in the separated stream 45. Accordingly, the separatingoperation by the second packet separating circuit 509 is controlled, sothat all of the packets may pass through during the all replacementmode.

[0084]FIG. 22 shows operation timing in this case. That is, an allpacket through mode is introduced into the second packet separatingcircuit 509 under control of the system controller 513. In the Figure,reference numeral 100 shows a separation mode, and when this separationmode is “L”, the normal separating operation is carried out, whereaswhen this separation mode is “H”, the all packet through mode becomeseffective.

[0085] When the second packet separating circuit 509 is operated in anall packet output mode between the all replacement mode −1 and the allreplacement mode −2, all of the packets 101 to 105 are entered into thepacket replacing circuit 10 on the separated stream. As a consequence,the PA1 (106, 107, 108) and the PA2 (109, 110) can be surely recorded onthe recording/reproducing apparatus 12.

[0086] It should also be noted that although the interface circuit 511is connected to the recording/reproducing apparatus 512 with theinput/output common mode in FIG. 15, the input and the output may beseparated from each other. Also, the above-described embodiments employthe data serial transfer operation but may employ the data paralleltransfer operation. In this alternative case, the parallel-to-serialconverting operation by the interface circuit 511 is no longer required.Also, the first packet separating circuit 506 is separately providedwith the second packet separating circuit 509 in the above-describedembodiments. Alternatively, these two packet separating circuits may becombined within a single circuit arrangement.

[0087] Furthermore, the signals are explained as the 8-bit parallelsignals with reference to the operations shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 19.Alternatively, for instance, these signals may be processed as 16-bitparallel signals, or 1-bit serial signals.

[0088] It should also be understood that FIG. 18, FIG. 21, and FIG. 22represent that the input stream 80, the separated stream 45, and theoutput stream 48 appear at the same timing. However, practicallyspeaking, since various signal processing operations are carried out,certain delays on the order of several bytes to several packets aregenerated among these streams. In this embodiment, these delays areneglected.

[0089] Although the above-described packet replacing circuit 510replaces the PAT, the packet replacing circuit 510 may replace theheader 20 of another packet, and the data 21.

[0090] Also, there are possibilities that the values of the 4 bits ofthe continuity counter 30 contained in the header 20 must be changedevery packet. In this case, the continuity counter 30 or the 8-bit (1byte) data containing the continuity counter 30 stored in the storagecircuit 42 may be replaced under control of the system controller 513every time the packet is replaced. To this end, although not shown inFIG. 16, the detection result 51 is entered into the system controller513, so that such a recognition may be made of the packet replacement.

[0091] Furthermore, the error checking CRC code is added to the data 21of the actual packet. The CRC code of the replaced data may becalculated by the system controller 513. Alternatively, a CRC codegenerating circuit (not shown) may be employed in the packet replacingcircuit 510, so that the CRC code may be generated, or added.

[0092] Also, in the above-described embodiments, the packet replacingcircuit 510 exclusively used to replace the packet is employed.Alternatively, the packet may be replaced within the block of the firstpacket separating circuit 509. Furthermore, the packet may be replacedat the same time when the packet is separated, or before the packet isseparated. Also, the respective packets are once acquired into thesystem controller 513, and then may be replaced by this systemcontroller 513. When the packet is replaced by the system controller513, the work load thereof is increased. Therefore, although ahigh-speed CPU is required, there is an advantage that the packetreplacing operation can be performed with flexibility.

[0093] In the above description, the PID 27 contained in the header 20is used so as to judge whether or not the packet replacing operation iscarried out. Alternatively, other data contained in the header 20, orthe specific data contained in the data 21 may be employed for thisjudgment purpose.

[0094] It should also be understood that although the buffer 44, thestorage circuit 44, and the PID register 56 are employed as the separatecircuits in FIG. 16 and FIG. 19, these circuits may be commonly employedby either one storage circuit or two storage circuits.

[0095] As previously explained in detail, in accordance with the presentinvention, even when the information amount of the signals to betransmitted is different from the information amount recordable in therecording/ reproducing apparatus, only the digital signal related to adesired program can be selectively recorded. Also, the recorded programcan be immediately reproduced without any complex operation during thereproducing operation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A digital signal receiving apparatus forreceiving a transmitted digital broadcasting signal on which a pluralityof programs are multiplexed in a packet format, comprising: a receivingcircuit which receives said transmitted digital broadcasting signal anddemodulates the received signal; a packet separating circuit whichextracts a packet of video, audio and Program Clock Reference (PCR)which is indicative of the time information required when decoding fromthe received digital signal; an output circuit which converts theseparated signal from said packet separating circuit into a recordingformat of a recording apparatus and outputs the converted signal to saidrecording apparatus; and a control circuit which controls said packetseparating circuit in accordance with desired program and controls saidoutput circuit to output video, audio and PCR of the desired program tothe recording apparatus.